Radiator-valve.



J. B; MORGAN @E M. RGL'ARK.

' RADIATOR VALVE. APPLIOATIONFILBD JUNE 13. 191.0.

UNTTED STATES PATENT oEEroE.

JTOHN BRAINERD MORGAN ANI) MORRIS F. CLARK, OF

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, As-

SIGNORS TO MORGAN-CLARK SYSTEM COMPANY, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A COR- PORATION 0F MICHIGAN.

RADIATOR-VALVE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN BRAINERO MORGAN and Monms F. CLARK, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Radiator-Valves; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

vOur present invention relates to valves and particularly to that class adapted to be used in connection with the radiators of heating systems, and it has for its object to provide a radiator valve which is adapted for use in conjunction with vapor or low pressure steam heating systems in which a circulation is maintained in the various pipes and radiators by a pump or other means employed for creating a partial vacuum for the purpose of drawing olf the water of condensation.

Our invention also has for its further ob ject to provide a valve of this character consisting of few parts of simple construction so arranged that they may be readily assembled and adjusted and which in operation will normally clear their valve seats and vents from scale or other foreign substances.v

i To these and other ends the invent-ion consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specilication.

In the drawings: Figure l is a verticalV sectional view showing the preferred construction ofV a valve embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line QX-Q* of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing a modified form of valve. Fig. et is a view showing in side elevation a portion of a radiator illustrating the valve attached thereto, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 5X-5X of Fig. l.

Similar reference numerals in the several figures indicate similar parts.

In the so-called vacuum heating systems in which the radiators are connected to the supply and return pipes a proper circulation is maintained by drawing OE the air and water of condensation by means of a'vacuum pump, and it is, therefore, desirable to locate Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 13J 1910.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911. serial No. 566,477.

at some point in the return pipe, and preferably in proximity to the radiator a check valve. f

The object of our present invention is to provide such a valve whichmay be conveniently adjusted so that it may be operated by the suction or vacuum created in the return pipe when the water of condensation in the radiator shall have reached a predetermined point. In a valve of this character it is also desirable that a vent be provided whereby the air accumulated in the radiator, when the latter is not in use, may be gradually drawn of, or through which a very small quantity of. the vapor may pass, in order that when the inlet valve first opened the radiator heated by the steam or vapor admitted thereto. It is also essential that provision be made to keep the vent from becoming clogged o-r rendered ineffective by the deposit of scale thereon or the lodgment of foreign substances therein and that the valve seat be also kept clear and free of such material.

A valve constructed in accordance with our invention comprises the casing or body l having the inlet passage 2 which is connected with the radiator 3 by a short length of pipe t. The outlet passage of the valve indicated by 5 is arranged at right angles to the inlet passage and is connected with the return pipe 6. Between the inlet passage and outlet passage and preferably arranged at the inner end of the latter is a wall or partition 7, having on its lower side the valve seat 8, with which cooperates the valve head 9. The latter is arranged to move in the direction of the outlet passage, to open the valve, but is normally retained yieldingly in engagement with its seat by the springl() operating on the valvestem 1l. The stem extends upwardly from the valve head through the wall l2 which is screwthreaded in the collar 13 of the casing o-pposite to the outlet passage and located. above the inlet passage, said wall being provided with a perforation through which the valve stem passes and having a central hub 14 provided with a transverse slot 15 in which a screw driver or other suitable tool may be fitted when it is desired to remove or apply the wall l2. The hub 14 also provides a means for centering the lower end of the spring l0, the upper end of which may be quickly of the radiator is i ship which itslower end mayA bear to the corresponding Vend of said slot when the ik' lbears against an'adjustableihead or cap y aoy threaded on the stem 11, which may Vbe 'l 1 Vmoved longitudinally thereon to vary the compression of the spring and thus regulate .the pressure with which the valve head 9 is held against its seat 8.

The valve stem is provided with a `longitudinalperforation y17, and at one side of the Vstem is a laterally extending slot 18.

forming the vent or port whichopens communication between the inlet and outlet passages of the valve casing, the area of which is controlled' by the closeness with which the cleaningmember 19 is fittedbetweenthe walls ofthe slot, or the relation'- valve 'head is in engagement with its seat. The cleaning me1nber'19V is bent laterally at its upper end forming, the extremity V2() overlying the outer face of the wall Vl2,

where it is provided'with an eye-21 receivingl the screw 22 which rigidly. secures it in-,position on the wall@ The endp of the cleaning member passes through the slot 15,

wardly projecting .end lying in the slot in the valve stem also AVserves to prevent the v latter fromrotating when the cap 15 is adjusted.v The limit of the downward move-p mentfof the valve hea'dnisY determined by i the position-of the upper end of the slot 18 by the-pin 23 inserted in the upper end ofV in reference tov the end portion 2O ofv the cleaningv member, 'and the aperture thus formed, which under so-me circumstances would permit the escape of vapor, is closed themember'lY, its head -211 engaging the upper end of the valve stem beneath the cap '16. Y This pin may be easily removedv whenever it is desired to insert an instrument should it become necessary'to removev any kobstruction which might become lodged in vthe passage in the stem. Y

rvThe parts of the valve mechanism. arranged eXteriorly-of the kcasing are preferably inclosed by the dome-shaped cap 2 5 engaging the'screw threads in'the'eo-llar 18.

Y j In operation, when' the suction in the outlet passage 5 and the weight of the water of condensation bearing upon the upper side ofthevalve head becomes sufficient to overcome thetensio-n of the spring '10, the valve head 9 will be moved downwardly away from its. seat, allowing the water in .the-radiator to flow o-utwardlyand as the Y valve head opens in the directionof the outl La5 let passage any sediment that may have been deposited in 'the valve casing will be flushed out, at the same vtime the normal. area of Vthe ventlwill-have been increased and the stream of' water fiowing through the slot 18 and the perforation 17, will wash away any foreign substance therein. A t the same Vtime thereciprocationof the valve stem rellatively to the eleaningmember 19 lwill cause 'the latter to. dislodge any particles of scale Vwhich may have found lodgment in or against the slot 18. lThe latter,y itv will be noticed from Fig. 5, is also less in width than the diameter of the perforation 17, so that anyminute particles of foreign matter which may be carried through the lower end of .the slot, when the valve head is opened, will find ready outlet through said perforation. The pin or linger forming the cleaning member 19 being stationary and projecting into the laterally extendingl portion ofthe vent or port cooperates with the lower -end thereof so that the size of the port is automatically increased when the valve head moves away from its seat and reversely the area of the port is automatically diminished during the return of the valve head under the inliuence of the spring 10. lVhen the valve is closed the vent or port primarily acts to allow the escape'of air orvapor and as the level of the water seal in the valve chamber increases a portion of the water may drip through the port, but when the valve head is opened the stem is drawn downwardly and vthe portentirely lsubmerged when it becomes an auxiliary exit. to the main passage through. the valve seat and some of the water', air and vapor escaping through it thoroughly iiushes away `any foreign particles or sediment. The

cleaning member also acts Vduring the operation rof the valve head to remove` any deposits of scale or corrosion which may have a tendency to become deposited on the walls of the port and which in time wouldbecome amenace to its successful operation.

In the modified form of the valve shown yin Fig. 3, a somewhat different arrangement of the cleaning member is illustrated.

YIn YthisA valve the tubular stem 30 is providedv with an aperture 31 extending through the stem at an angle and intersecting the perforation in the stem, its lower end. forming the vent and affording communication between `the body of the casing v and the interior ofthe stem below the partition 82. The cleaning member, indicated by 83, has the free end projecting through the vent 31 and intermediate its length it. is provided with a coil 34 giving it the dcsired amount of elasticity to permit it to accommodate `itself to the longitudinal movement of the stemv and to effect the reciprocatory movement o-f the cleaning member in the vent during the movement of the stem. The cleaning member is held in position by securing its outer. extremity beneath thehead of the screw When the cleaning vmember is thus constructed, the valve stem is prevented from rotary movement by providing'itfwith a pin 36 fitting a Vslot in a finger 37 projecting upwardly from the partition 32.

iso

valve constructed in accordance with our invention possesses the advantage of maintaining a water seal. for preventing the leakage of steam or vapor around the valve seat and thus permitting the quantity of vapor allowed to escape through the vent to be determined to a nicety, hence the spring lO may be regulated to render the valve head sensitive in operation, so that it will automatically release each time the water of condensation reaches a predetermined height.

rlhe arrangement of the parts as described, whereby the valve head opens outwardly in the direction of the return pipe of the heating system and at the same time opens and increases the area of the vent, not only permits these parts to be cleaned by the outflowing water of condensation, but also permits the same result to be accomplished by temporarily increasing the steam pressure in the supply pipe and radiator, an expedientwhich may be employed should occasion arise.

l/Ve claim as our invention:

l. The combination with-a valve casing having` a valve seat and a movable valve head cooperating therewith having a stem provided with an automatic opening port, of a cleaning member arranged stationary in conjunction with said port and coperating with the port to increase the size of the opening of the said port upon the movement 0f the valve head in a direction away from its seat.

2. The combination with a casing forming a valve chamber having inlet and outlet passages, a valve seat located between them and a valve head cooperating therewith having a stem projecting exteriorly of the casing, the portion of the stem within the casing being provided with a vent opening communication between said passages, of a wall on the casing having a perforation through which said stem passes, a spring bearing against the wall and operating on the stem to yieldingly hold the valve against its seat and a member also supported on said wall exteriorly of the valve chamber and projecting into the vent for the purpose of cleaning foreign matter out of the latter upon each movement of the valve head.

3. The combination with a valve casing having inlet and outlet passages and a top wall located opposite the outlet passage, a valve seat arranged between said passages, a valve head coperating with said outlet passage having a stem projecting through the wall of the casing, said stem being provided with a vent, of an adjustable cap on the stem, a spring arranged between it and the wall of the casing and a cleaning out member secured to the exterior of said wall and operating in the vent.

4. The combination with a valve casing having inlet and outlet passages and provided with a collar arranged in alinement with the outlet passage, a perforated plate fitted in said collar, a valve seat and a valve head cooperating with the seat and movable relatively thereto in the direction of the outlet passage, of a valve stem extending through the plate provided with a longitudinal perforation and a laterally extending vent leading therefrom, an adjustable head on the stem and a spring arranged between it and the plate and a cleaning member secured to the latter and having its extremity projecting downwardly and lying in the vent.

5. The combination with a valve casing having inlet and outlet passages and provided with a collar arranged in alinement with the outlet passage, a plate threaded in said collar having a perforated central hub provided with a slot, a valve seat and a valve head coperating with the seat and movable relatively thereto in the direction of the outlet passage, of a valve stem extending through the plate provided with a longitudinal perforation and a laterally extending vent leading therefrom, an adjustable head on the stem, a spring arranged between it and the plate and a cleaning member secured to the latter and, having its extremity projecting through the slot in the hub and lying in the vent opening of the stem. j

6. The combination with a valve casing having inlet and outlet passages and provided with a collar arranged in alinement with the outlet passage, a plate threaded in said collar having a perforation, a valve seat and a valve head coiperatiug with the seat and movable relatively thereto in the direction of the outlet passage, of a valve stem extending through the plate provided with a longitudinal perforation and a laterally extending slot leading from a point below to a point above the plate, a cleaning member lying in the slot having its outer extremity projecting laterally over the face of the plate, a pin removably fitted in the upper end of the stem and closing the end of the slot above the cleaning member and means for yieldingly holding the valve head in engagement with its seat.

7. The combination with a valve casing having inlet and outlet passages, the former being located above the latter, a valve seat and a valve head coperating therewith to form a water seal and movable in the direction of the outlet passage, of a stem attached to the valve head and projecting exteriorly of the casing, said stem being provided with an auxiliary air and water passage opening direct communication between said inlet and outlet passages, means cooperating with said auxiliary passage for automatically enlarging and diminishing its area upon the movement of the valvehead land means operating to support the valve head and cause it to form with the water of condensation an unbroken'water seahr 1 Y A 8.1 The combination with a valve casing forminga chamber having inlet and outlet passages, said chamber constituting one element,- the inlet passagebeing located above -f thefoutlet passage and thejlatter havinga valve seatof a valve head cooperatingwith Y the latter to cause water of condensation to Yform' a continuons water seal, a stem at* `tached to the valve head andprojecting exteriorly of the casing,A said stem and head constituting a second element, one of'said elements being provided with' an'auxiliary air and water passageV opening communica tion between the inlet and outlet passages at a point within the water seal chamber, means operating on said stem exteriorly of the cas-V provided withan automatic opening. port leading from one side of the valve seat to the other, ofa cleaning member supported on the'casingand projecting into the port, said port and member :cooperating to increase the area of Vthe opening of the port whenthe valve is moved into open position ina direction away from its seat.

10. The combination with a valve casing having a valve seat, and a movable valve head cooperating therewith having a stem provided with a port comprising a longitudinally extending passage having an extremity opening laterally of the valve stem and a cleaning member lying in the lateral portion of said passage.

YJOHN BRAINERD MORGAN. v MORRIS F. CLARK.

Witnesses to the signature of John Brainerd Morgan: 1

. WADE Minis,

Snom L. ORR. lllitnesses to the signature of Morris F. Clark: j

G. WILLARD RICH,n RUSSELL B. GRIFFITH. Y

Copes'of this patent may be obtained for iive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

